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Press: Ice cream’s back — thank you, Joe!
On the official schedule, it was just another vaccination push. On Tuesday, July 6, first lady Jill Biden jetted to Savannah, Ga., in yet one more valiant attempt to convince Americans not yet vaccinated to step up and do the right thing. Yet it’s what was not on the official schedule that made news.
On her way back to the airport, the first lady made a surprise stop at the Green Truck Pub, a tiny eatery known for making everything by hand, including ketchup, pimento cheese, veggie patties — and its famous pecan pie. That’s what lured in Jill Biden. She went home with a box of them.
We know the first lady’s not alone in sneaking away for a snack while conducting official White House business. She’s only following the lead of the president himself, who’d combined an official visit to Michigan on July 3 to promote his administration’s infrastructure deal with a stop at the King Orchard Farm in Central Lake, Mich., to walk away with — what else? — a cherry pie.
And, of course, Joe Biden’s as famous for his love of ice cream as he is for his sporty aviator sunglasses. “It’s never too cold for ice cream or too dark for aviator glasses,” Biden once quipped. Indeed, as senator or vice president, and now as president, it seems like Biden’s never driven past an ice cream stop without detouring to sample the offerings. Within the last few weeks, in Cleveland, La Crosse, Wis.; Durham, N.C.; and Crystal Lake, Ill. He ended his trip to Michigan at Moomers Homemade Ice Cream in Traverse City with two scoops of vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips in a waffle cone.
Conservative news outlets, as well as Donald Trump himself, are apoplectic about positive media coverage of Biden’s ice cream choices. The National Review, the New York Post, and the Washington Times have all accused White House reporters of paying more attention to what flavor of ice cream he orders (and how many scoops) than to what Biden’s going to do about Russian hacking.
Which is pure nonsense. Reporters never leave any ice cream stop without also seizing the opportunity to pepper Biden for the latest “scoop” on public policy. And presidential food favorites have always been a staple of White House reporting: squirrel soup for James Garfield; fried chicken for Harry Truman; baked grits and cheese for Jimmy Carter; and burnt steak slathered in ketchup for Donald Trump. Yuck!
Such grumping misses the point. Which is this. Shout it from the headlines: ICE CREAM IS BACK! Pie is back! Sweets are back! Dessert is back! Next time you’re out for dinner and your server asks “Did you save room for dessert,” you no longer have to look guilty and mutter “Oh, no, of course not.” You can look her proudly in the eye and say: “Hell, yeah. What kind of pie and ice cream do you have?”
What a refreshing change from the stern admonitions about “eating healthy” we heard from first lady Michelle Obama. Not that Obama’s wrong. It is important to cut the carbs and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. But you can only eat so many vegetables before getting bored. Michelle Obama once noted that her favorites snacks were “nuts, veggies and humus, and Ezekiel toast with almond butter.”
Sorry, but I’d rather have a chocolate milk shake. And now I can. If the Biden administration achieves nothing else, it’s already succeeded in redeeming America’s sweet tooth. Thank you, Joe and Jill.
Press is host of “The Bill Press Pod.” He is author of “From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.”


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LAS VEGAS — May 20, 2014 — Wynn Resorts announces that it’s proposed $1.6 billion Wynn Resort in Everett will be the largest private sector single-phase construction project in the history of the State of Massachusetts (according to Boston Redevelopment Authority data). The 5-star resort, which will be 100% owned by Wynn, will require more than 10 million man hours to complete, also making the project one of the largest construction-job generators in the Commonwealth’s history.
“The economic impact of a Wynn Resort in Everett will go far beyond construction jobs and extend to businesses and communities all across the region,” said Robert DeSalvio, senior vice president of development at Wynn. “More than $2 billion in total wages and ancillary spending will be generated by Wynn in the first five years of construction and operation. That money will be spent by construction workers and employees to buy everyday goods and services in local retailers and establishments. The trickle-down effect of a project this large benefits all.”
The Wynn Resort in Everett includes the transformation of a 100-plus-year-old contaminated waterfront into a clean, lush waterfront park and boardwalk. The projects grand scale will generate more than 4,000 permanent jobs, 14,300 one-time construction jobs and drive more than $4 billion in revenue to other local businesses over five years—numbers that are significantly higher than any other proposed gaming resort in the state.
Wynn Resorts are globally recognized for their attention to the smallest details. In Las Vegas, Wynn spends more than $2 million a year on fresh-cut flowers for its hotel rooms and replaces more than 8,000 flowering plants every three weeks. The company has received more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world and has been recognized as the best resort in Nevada on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” for five consecutive years.

domain: news


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Video gaming has at all times been a aggressive sport. Whereas it may very well be entertaining to watch matches, the tournaments did not actually make the game accessible to spectators Most matches had been too fast and chaotic to be significant to anyone but probably the most knowledgeable gamers. Future plans additionally embrace a present named Rise of the Indies that may discuss with impartial game developers and the groups behind indie initiatives on Kickstarter.
Regardless of plans to eventually launch PvP arenas, this week Blizzard admitted that it does not intend for Diablo III to have an e-sports activities scene. Nevertheless, these websites function stay video feeds of players enjoying widespread video games any time, as well.
In a new video devblog on the Star Citizen economic system, Chris Roberts revealed that transport and kill missions will likely be assigned by a fancy underlying economic system system and that prices of products will likely be tied to the success or failure of these missions.
Gamers in Diablo III ‘s early Reaper of Souls beta not too long ago found that several new high-stage monster affixes are introduced with the expansion. In addition to getting a new champion every few weeks, League of Legends is continually updated with steadiness adjustments and gameplay tweaks primarily based on player feedback.
League Of Legends Provides Mermaid Champion, Could Be Heading To Steam
Video gaming has always been a aggressive sport. To know his career, and the bigger esports scene, I highly advocate the League of Legends episode in 7 Days Out , a six-half documentary collection that debuted on Netflix final month. Blizzard also asked players for feedback on the idea of adding a Diablo II fashion ladder system, and announced that it has big information about the game to be revealed in Gamescom later this month.
Builders launched the fourth video in a brand new series designed to clarify the genre’s gameplay to console players, delving into the game’s potion and item system. Firefall developer Crimson 5 Studios introduced its first $10,000 US cash prize tournament series and profiled Star Citizen in its latest Rise of the Indies show on YouTube.
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Video gaming has at all times been a aggressive sport. The reason became obvious right this moment as developer S2 Video games revealed that it has been working on a brand new sport all this time. The MOBA e-sports group was enraged this week when it was reported that professional League of Legends gamers taking part within the 2014 championship collection had been barred by contract from livestreaming competing video games.
Money MOBA Tournaments, Diablo III’s Newest Exploit, And City
Video gaming has all the time been a aggressive sport. Tournament group Good Game College was given its first and ultimate warning for executing a DDoS assault on a player in the opposing staff during a match to cause him to disconnect. The development workforce will no doubt be utilizing the video as a vision target for recreation design, artwork, sound design and immersion.
Wizards in Diablo III could also be disenchanted to know that Blizzard is considering nerfing the Arcane Power on Crit stat Wyatt Cheng stated on Reddit that he is been experimenting with lowering the stat because it permits builds in which players can spam expensive spells.
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Gamers who have been dissatisfied at the gear-enchanting Mystic being removed from the game will likely be glad to know that builders have been working arduous on getting her again into the game.


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Game developer Capcom has teased fans about its upcoming video game: the Mega Man 11. Fans of the popular video game expressed their excitement because of Capcom’s big announcement.
In a live stream earlier this week, Capcom said the brand-new Mega Man 11 would be released on several console platforms. Mega Man 11 will be playable in PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Fans can expect the game in 2018. The Mega Man 11 is directed by Koji Oda with Kazuhiro Tsuchiya as the game producer.
Gamers were able to look some gameplay of the Mega Man after Capcom has released the game’s trailer.
Moreover, Capcom has also teased fans with the game’s retro collections. The publisher will release Mega Man Legacy Collection and Mega Man Legacy Collection 2.
Game analysts claim that both retro collections made their way to Xbox One and PS4 consoles. Capcom, however, said that both would also be rolled out in Switch by 2018.
Aside from the Mega Man 11’s retro collections, the eight games in the game’s spinoff series will be rolled out to Switch, PC, PS4 and Xbox One as well. To date, Capcom did not release any additional details. Fans are not sure if the eight games will be released individually or in the bundle.
What’s new with Mega Man 11?
Taking its cue from Mega Man X, the new game is expected to be released on a 2D side-scrolling platform. In contrast to its predecessor, the Mega Man 11 features a unique and varied art style.
Game developers said that Mega Man’s appearance looks different and will have a new weapon.


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The update will allow Instagram users to upload up to 10 multiple photos and videos as a story at once, along with a "preview" option
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Facebook-owned Instagram on Wednesday introduced a new update to make uploading photos and videos on its "Stories" feature faster and easier. The update will allow users to upload up to 10 multiple photos and videos as a story at once, along with a "preview" option, Instagram said in an official blog post on Tuesday.
"Tap the new icon at the top right corner of your screen to begin selecting media files from your gallery. On the edit screen, you'll see a preview of all the media you've selected lined up at the bottom and your preview will upload at once in the order you selected them," the post added. The users will be able to edit each of the multiple photos and videos individually with stickers, text and all the other creative tools, available as part of the "Instagram Stories."
"With the latest update, Instagram will make it faster to find the right place when adding the location sticker to a photo or video, suggesting places from near where the media was captured," the blog post said.
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We are about leadership-the 9.9 kind! Building a leading media company out of India.And,grooming new leaders for this promising industry.


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Russian national payment processing system should be created as an alternative to Visa and MasterCard, not instead of them, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already ordered the Russian government to establish alternative national payment processing system, Shuvalov said in an interview with the News on Saturday with Sergei Brilyov program aired in Russia's Far East.
"It will be created. Certain time is needed for this. But it will be established solely in isolated mode - it will service some market segment and will be able to cooperate with other international payment processing systems besides Visa and MasterCard," the first deputy prime minister said.
Visa and MasterCard will not be banned it Russia, he said.
"We just want that now banks and card issuers are able to provide their clients with an opportunity to process payments via MasterCard, via Visa, via UnionPay and via the national payment processing system, thus the service menu will be considerably bigger," Shuvalov said.
"And of course, we should not put ourselves in a vulnerable position anymore as it happened, for example with the Rossiya bank, when Master stopped carrying out payments. We should not allow such a situation again," he said.
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
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A Galway shopping store is have a clearance sale at two of its branches, ahead of closing them down, much to the disappointment of the public.
Joyce's Supermarkets in Athenry and Tuam are the two stores which will face closure, however, there is a silver lining to the cloud.
Joyce's announced that they will have a mammoth clearance sale for nearly two weeks, in an attempt to sell all their wares.
From Thursday, July 7, until Sunday, July 17, nearly all products will be under a price-reduction, as all stocks must be sold ahead of the final day.
The extraordinary offer states nearly everything will be 25% off, except for certain products in store. Those products include: tobacco, fuel, lotto, mobile top-up, gift vouchers, stamps, baby formula, alcohol, and fresh food.
Although alcohol won't be touched by the 25% off deal, all wines will be reduced by at least 20%, which is a perfectly acceptable consolation prize.
A note is made of the fact that this sale only effects these two stores in particular, with all other branches and service stations not to be affected.
Joyce's posted on Facebook, "Clearance sale at our Joyce's Athenry and Tuam Branches now on until Sunday the 17th of July. Save 25% on selected goods and at least 20% off on all WINES in store.
"Terms, Conditions and limitations apply. Sale at our Athenry Supermarket only and does not include Joyce's service stations at Athenry."
The news has quickly drummed up a lot of attention and support, as customers are eager to get in-store and see what deals they can get their hands on.
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Drug Store Plans To Rid Its Shelves Of Tobacco Products
Originally published on Wed February 5, 2014 9:23 pm
The pharmacy giant CVS plans to eliminate cigarettes and other tobacco products from its stores by October. The company says it made the decision because the drug store business is changing and that selling cigarettes is no longer consistent with its mission. Medical experts and the White House hailed the move. NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports.


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By Oliver Smith on Wednesday 8 January 2020
In Asia, the fight for the fintech crown is heating up.
As many as 21 tech and finance groups have filed applications to be awarded one of five digital bank licenses on offer in Singapore.
The news from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is a sign that Singapore is poised to solidify its position as a fintech hub in the region.
Among the bidders are Asian tech giants like Ant Financial, ride-hailing app Grab, gaming firm Razer, and several consortiums.
Interestingly, the vast majority of the bids are to establish wholesale banks, while just seven are aimed at establishing retail banks.
The interest also suggests that Singapore is due a raft of new banking players, similar to what’s happening in Hong Kong where eight online banking licenses were issued last year.
It also presents a challenge to European markets like the UK, which are strongly seen as leading the digital banking revolution due to their headstart in opening up licence applications for new entrants.
“The new digital bank licences have attracted strong interest from a diverse group of applicants,” said the MAS in a statement.
“These include e-commerce firms, technology and telecommunications companies, FinTechs (such as crowd-funding platforms and payment services providers) and financial institutions.”
Altogether some 50 companies are involved in the bidding process according to reports.
The successful applicants will be announced in June, with them expected to start launching their businesses by mid-2021.


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Investment: Smurfit shows how to survive
Thursday 03 September 1998
For years, the packaging industry has suffered from over- capacity. The problem has been aggravated by US firms building further paper and packaging mills, endangering the whole industry with weaker prices.
That has caused markets to trade packaging companies at a heavy discount. Smurfit has gone the other way, building profits by buying competitors and even closing mills (one example being the current merger of its US operations with Stone Container Corp).
At last packaging firms in the US and elsewhere have begun to follow suit. Alas, says Smurfit, it may be too late. The Asian crisis has reduced orders from US rivals for packaging materials such as kraftline, depressing world prices. Demand for linerboard has also fallen. In the UK, exports of packaged goods have dwindled against imports because of the exchange rate, which disadvantages Smurfit.
On the positive side, the group enjoyed a 55 per cent jump in first-half profits on the back of surging demand in Europe. Food and drink companies, more than half of Smurfit's customer base, have benefited from a jump in consumer spending. That had handsome knock-on effects. Smurfit also boosted profits by increasing its stake in Nettingsdorfer, a packaging group based in eastern Europe.
Consensus forecasts put Smurfit's full-year 1998 earnings at about Irpounds 13.5p per share. But in the light of its comments on Asia, that now looks optimistic. A more realistic figure is Irpounds 11.9p. That gives a forward multiple of 11 times yesterday's closing price of 114p, up 1.5p. Smurfit shares have halved in value in the past few months. But in the current uncertain climate, they are high enough.
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text: The automobile equipment supplier Wagon Automotive announced on 1 December 2006 that 581 jobs will be cut between December 2006 and March 2007 in France. Wagon Automotive France currently employs 948 people in France. The factory of Champigny (Yonne) will be closed, with the loss of all 205 jobs. Moreover, the group has decided to cut 118 jobs in Douai (Nord), 20 jobs in Fontaine (Territoire de Belfort), 134 jobs in Saint Florent (Cher) and 104 jobs in Saint Pierre de Varengeville (Calvados). In parallel, the group will continue its internal restructuring programme to increase its competiviness in Europe. In this sense, it is planning investments of more than 50 million euro, including 28 million in France between December and the end of March 2007. On 5 July 2007 the factory of Champigny (Yonne) will close with the loss of 192 jobs.


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Truck sales led the way for Dearborn’s Ford Motor Co. in the second quarter, while trucks and crossovers dominated for Detroit’s General Motors.
Ford sold 650,336 vehicles, which is down 4.1 percent year-over-year. Its truck sales increased 7.5 percent to 324,243, while SUV sales dropped 8.6 percent to 215,898 and car sales dropped 21.4 percent to 110,195.
For the company, truck and SUVs totaled 83 percent of Q2 sales, which is up four percentage points from the year before, growing quarter-ending transaction prices by $1,500 to $36,400 per vehicle.
First-quarter growth for trucks was 5 percent. The second quarter was the company’s best overall pickup truck sales performance since 2004.
“In a very competitive market, we grew our total pickup segment share in Q2, and we have extended F-Series’ leadership this year, and now with the Ranger introduction, we have further broadened America’s best-selling lineup,” says Mark LaNeve, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales, and service for Ford. “We also began selling our all-new Explorer at the end of the quarter. With the Explorer and the all-new Escape coming soon, we are on track to have the freshest SUV lineup in the industry by year’s end.”
Total Q2 F-Series sales passed the 230,000 mark. F-Series transaction pricing was solid at $47,500 per truck, $1,200 higher than a year ago and $2,500 above the segment average.
Ranger sales have grown every month since January, adding 20,880 trucks to Ford’s total pickup truck sales for the quarter. The truck’s sales more than doubled relative to Q1 results.
Ford’s commercial business was up 6 percent in Q2. Combined, sales of the class 6 and 7 F-650/F-750 trucks were up 83 percent in Q2 and up 53 percent calendar year to date. This is the sector’s best performance since 1997.
In July, additional capacity will be added at the Kentucky truck plant to support demand for the Expedition, which posted a total sales increase of 50 percent. EcoSport grew 23 percent with 21,507 sales in the second quarter. The all-new Explorer went on sale at the end of Q2. The plant changeover accounts for lower SUV sales in Q2.
Sales of the Nautilus posted a 13 percent gain on sales of 8,187 SUVs for the first quarter. Nautilus average transaction pricing at the end of Q2 increased to $44,300 per SUV, up $3,700.
Retail sales of special performance series Mustangs (GT350 and Bullitt) were up 39 percent in Q2 of this year, increasing Mustang transaction pricing by $1,200 over a year ago to $36,600 per car.
Lincoln SUVs were off to their best start since 2001 with sales of 39,109 through the first six months of the year. The Lincoln Aviator is now on sale, and the all-new Corsair will be available later this year.
GM delivered 746,659 vehicles in the U.S. in Q2. Crossover sales grew year-over-year by 17 percent, and sales of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab and GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab were both up 12 percent year-over-year. The company’s fleet mix of total sales was 23 percent.
“The light-duty segment is the highest-volume part of the pickup market, and we are expanding choice to make sure that we meet the needs of every customer,” says Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of sales operations. “Heavy-duty trucks, by contrast, are about 25 percent of full-size pickup sales. Our HDs are purpose-built machines for people who need maximum capability, and we are poised for significant growth.”
Sales of every Buick crossover were up year-over-year, with the Envision posting a 28 percent sales increase. The Enclave was up 21 percent, and the Encore was up 5 percent. Buick deliveries were up 5 percent, and GMC deliveries were up 10 percent.
Cadillac crossover deliveries were up 19 percent in total year-over-year, helping the brand grow both total and retail sales.
The Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon XL were each up more than 20 percent compared to a year ago.
GM deliveries overall were down 1.5 percent versus a year ago, in line with third-party estimates for industry sales. The company estimates its retail market share was even with a year ago, with truck and crossover deliveries offsetting lower passenger car sales.
“The U.S. economy continues to grow at a healthy pace. Jobs are plentiful and inflation remains low,” says Elaine Buckberg, chief economist for GM. “Auto demand was better than anticipated in the first half, and we expect strong performance in the second half of the year. If the Fed cuts rates, as widely expected, lower financing costs will provide further support to auto sales.”
The U.S. light-vehicle seasonally adjusted annual rate for the first half of the year is expected to be 17 million units, Buckberg says.
GM has installed new body shops, upgraded paint shops, and reconfigured general assembly at its plants to increase capacity by 20,000 units compared with the outgoing model. The company’s crew cab mix has risen from 60 percent of sales to almost 75 percent year-over-year.
The company will double production of the Chevrolet Trail Boss after demand exceeded expectation. Chevrolet will also offer both Trail Boss models with a 420-horsepower, 6.2L V-8 engine in 2020.
Finally, GM is introducing its new fuel-efficient 3.0-liter Duramax diesel, which is expected to be available later this quarter.


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PORTLAND, Maine — It’s been 11 months since the first round of Chinese tariffs were announced and the Maine International Trade Center now released tangible numbers on the impact.
President Wade Merritt says through the first quarter of the year Maine’s exports to China were down 51% and that’s not including Monday’s announcement by China, retaliating with even more tariffs on 60 billion dollars worth of U.S. goods.
NEWS CENTER spoke with Maine Coast, a lobster wholesaler in York. CEO Thomas Adams says they’ve seen revenue sink by about $10 million, forcing him and his staff to find customers in nearly 30 other countries just to make up the margins.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: News Center Maine


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WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Dole Food Company has started the New Year with a new look for its website.
Dole describes the redesigned website as easy for consumers to use on all tablets and mobile devices. Dole teamed up with Santa Monica-based digital agency Blitz for one year to work on the redesign.
“We wanted the digital face of Dole to better represent our culture and commitment to consumers,” said Marty Ordman, Dole’s VP of marketing and corporate communications. “We collected feedback from our customers and used that to create a site that is easier to use, has richer product information and aims to help people live healthier lives.”
The updated layout leads visitors to related content and material which they can share with friends on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
“The new Dole.com allows us to present a consistent brand identity across our entire online experience,” said Dole’s digital marketing manager, Michael Contreras. “The new look was designed to pay tribute to Dole’s legacy, while still representing where Dole is headed. The updated site also provides each of the Dole divisions with the flexibility that they need to customize their individual web presence.”


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The success of Warzone Pacific Season 2's LTM Caldera Clash is proof that more LTMs could be a great thing for the battle royale.
Players have been enjoying Caldera Clash in Season 2 and hope to see it become a permanent Warzone Pacific mode.
Warzone Pacific Season 2 will introduce Caldera Clash, a brand new TDM-like game mode that is set to deliver on chaos.
Many now feel that Warzone's Shotguns are pointless after the damage nerfs that came with the Season 3 Reloaded update.
Warzone Pacific Season 3 Reloaded brought some new content to the game, including a Squad HUD feature which players are...
Fans of the battle royale are concerned that Warzone 2's potential compatibility with last-gen consoles could ruin the game.


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Tesla will recall 54,000 electric powered automobiles in purchase to disable a self-driving element that stops them from coming to a whole prevent at intersections with end indicators.
The Teslas getting recalled have an autonomous “rolling stop” function in which they transfer bit by bit by means of a quit signal devoid of coming to a complete halt. In most states, car or truck are expected to come to a full cease at intersections outfitted with end indicators.
The National Highway Website traffic Security Administration explained the self-driving element endangers driver basic safety given that “failing to prevent at a prevent indication can boost the chance of a crash.”
In accordance to the NHTSA, Tesla introduced the rolling stop performance in Oct as part of a menu of optional “profiles” that drivers can decide if they opt for self-driving options.
Drivers could alternate among “chill,” “average” and “assertive” — the last of which has the vehicle “perform a lot more repeated lane modifications, will not exit passing lanes, and may well accomplish rolling stops.”
The company headed by billionaire Elon Musk informed authorities that the “rolling stop” can only be carried out if the auto is traveling at speeds under 5.6 miles for each hour and if no other cars, pedestrians or bikes are detected in the vicinity of the intersection.
As of late January, there have been no accidents, crashes or fatalities as a final result of the “rolling stop” function, according to the car or truck organization.
Tesla will remember Model S and Product X sedans created involving 2016 and 2022 Design 3 cars and trucks that rolled off assembly lines amongst 2017 and 2022 and Design Y motor vehicles bought amongst 2020 and 2022, in accordance to regulators.
Tesla programs to update the software package on the recalled motor vehicles.
The Article has arrived at out to Tesla trying to get comment.
It’s the 3rd time in the very last three months that Tesla has ordered a remember of 1000’s of its motor vehicles.
In late December, Tesla recalled approximately 50 % a million of its motor vehicles owing to malfunctioning rearview cameras and misaligned hood latches that could boost the chance of incidents.
In November, Tesla recalled more than 11,700 autos bought in the US because 2017 due to a self-driving software package issue that could activate the unexpected emergency brakes unexpectedly.


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Barely a week before he was taken into CBI custody on charges of defaulting on bank loans to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore, Rotomac chairman Vikram Kothari was among the top 100 key invitees to the mega UP investor summit.
Responding to a clarification sought by exchanges on news article "Rotomac owner flees India after taking Rs 800 crore loans', the Allahabad Bank said the group is "having an exposure from our bank since 2006".
These attachment of assets, they said, has been carried out to "recover outstanding tax demands" from the group, understood to be about Rs 85 crore.
Public sector banks have collectively lent Rs 2,919 crore to the Rotomac group with Bank of India as the lead lender.
The accounts were subsequently classified as NPA in the year 2015-16. The bank had made 100 per cent provisions on the amount outstanding, it said.
One of the consortium members, Bank of Baroda had approached the CBI requesting an FIR against Kothari as the bank apparently feared he might leave the country.
Rotomac group was first referred to NCLT by Bank of Baroda, after which IOB filed its claim, said Anurag Shankar, CFO, IOB, in a filing to the exchange.
The public sector bank remained silent for two years despite facing a Rs 6,172 crore forex scam in 2015 in which money was sent from India to Hong Kong for import of cashewnuts, pulses and rice, but nothing was imported and the money was deposited in 59 accounts of several firms.
What seemed like an uninterrupted success story gave way to a contrary reality as Kothari finds himself accused of loan default worth thousands of crores.
Vikram Kothari is the elder son of the late Mansukhbhai Kothari, who launched Kothari Products Ltd in 1973 and started an iconic mouth-freshener brand, “Pan Parag”. The group launched Rotomac Pens Pvt Ltd in 1992 to manufacture affordable ballpoint pens and stationery without compromising on quality.
The company claims the crayons are non-toxic and bio degradable and perfect for toddlers and children.
On items such as stationery purchased from unregistered vendors, businesses are liable to pay GST under reverse charge, for which self-invoicing needs to be done.
Through this partnership, Reynolds will relaunch its top selling pens into 55,000 stationery shops across India, including 10,000 Reynolds-sponsored retail locations.
While the focus will still be fine writing instruments, about 40% of the products on sale will include business lifestyle accessories, travel accessories and men's accessories like cufflinks, wallets, belts, bracelets, laptop bags and more.
The company has recently increased its product prices.With recent capacity addition, it is likely to exceed Rs 1,000-crore sales in FY17.
MD Bharat Puri speaks on effectively utilising a celeb like Amitabh Bachchan, and more..
William Penn is present in 30 locations across 9 cities in India, through own branded stores, mostly in high-end shopping malls. It also sells third-party pen brands like Sheaffer, Lamy and own brand Pennline through other retail outlets in India.
Branded paper company JK Paper on Monday reported a rise of 79 per cent in its net profit for the first quarter (Q1) of 2016-17.
"Flair has an installed capacity of 5 million pens per day and the products are sold in India through a strong distribution network of 4,000 distributors and 2,45,000 retailers.
In a first of its kind garage sale, all paperback titles will be available at Rs 25 while hardbounds can be purchased at at Rs 50.


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* Chinese carmakers closing quality gap
* Car execs: Chinese brands could become rivals overseas
* Top China automakers raise credibility through exports
By Chang-Ran Kim and Kevin Krolicki
BEIJING, April 24 (Reuters) - When Ric Hull first looked at launching Great Wall Motor (2333.HK) pickup trucks in Australia last year, he considered rebranding them, worried their obvious Chinese origins would raise questions about their quality.
Ateco Group, Hull’s auto importing and dealership company, decided against marketing the low cost models under “GWM” label, instead embracing the trucks’ made in China credentials, and sales are booming.
“We initially thought: do we resolve the brand question, do we call them GWM? But then we thought that people would know anyway, and that seems to be working very well,” Hull said.
“The thing that’s fascinated us about China is how rapidly they are progressing. The cars, just a few years ago, would not have been saleable in markets like ours. But today they are,” Hull told Reuters at the Beijing Auto Show this week.
Global auto executives gathered at the biannual event are also recognising the stiffer competition they face as Chinese rivals step up their quality standards.
Chinese carmakers, some with the help of foreign partners, have rapidly improved vehicle quality as they prepare to take on established international brands such as Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), General Motors [GM.UL] and Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) in the higher segments of the market that they dominate in China.
With such improved quality and cut-rate prices, established automakers could one day be competing against China’s most successful brands not only in China but on the global stage, executive said.
“I have no doubt about it,” Nissan Motor (7201.T) CEO Carlos Ghosn told a small group of reporters at the Beijing auto show. “This may take time. Obviously today, when you take a look at a show like this, there is more improvement to be made.
“Some Chinese brands are going to...gain credibility. They’re going to be acquiring know-how, like the Volvo acquisition,” he said, referring to Geely Automobile’s (0175.HK) deal last month to buy Volvo Cars from Ford Motor (F.N).
“For a company that’s only been in this business for a few years, it’s remarkable,” he said. “And they’re going to keep improving with every model change. One day, Chinese automakers could be a formidable competitor.”
Toyota Motor’s (7203.T) R&D chief, Takeshi Uchiyamada, also said he saw big improvements in the interior and exterior packaging as he walked around the auto show.
“These are show models so I don’t know how they would actually drive, but the products on display look a lot better than they did in the past,” he said.
Some analysts say that Chinese brands could become rivals outside their native market sooner than most automakers reckon.
“Chinese car companies are climbing the technology and quality ladder at such a pace that we believe within a few years, some domestic brands will able to compete with global brands both at home and overseas,” Nomura International analyst Yankun Hou wrote in a recent report.
Hou said he saw SAIC (600104.SS), Geely, BYD, Great Wall Motor and Chery as potential winners down the line.
For more from Beijing Auto show: [ID:nSGE63K0EL]
For China car market Graphic: link.reuters.com/jad78j
For Graphic on quality moves: link.reuters.com/vep88j ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
To be sure, managing quality is not only a Chinese issue.
The explosive growth in the China market has put major automakers on watch as well, especially after the global vehicle recalls that roiled Toyota earlier this year.
Established automakers are focusing on how to keep quality standards — and brand perception — from slipping even as they storm ahead with capacity expansion plans.
At GM, the mandate to ensure that Buick, Chevy and Cadillac quality standards are not compromised by booming growth comes right from Chief Executive Ed Whitacre, who has asked to be briefed on safeguards the U.S. automaker is putting into place, executives say.
“We are incredibly focused on the quality story,” GM’s president for international operations, Tim Lee, said in Beijing this week. “I have no fear that we will face it. We’ve seen the other side of the equation and our brands are too important.”
Ford, on track to increase its dealer network in China by 25 percent this year, is also focused on ensuring that it does not chase growth for the sake of growth.
“The quality of the dealership is more important to me than the number,” said Ford’s global marketing chief, Jim Farley. “I want to make sure that we are getting the right partner for the next 50 years.”
Chinese automakers, for their part, are aware of the task still ahead of them.
With Beijing keen to weed out the weak and be left with only a handful of strong, globally competitive homegrown players, Chinese automakers are scrambling to raise their game, including by showing they can export and set up shop overseas.
“We still have a gap to fill with international brands,” Jianghuai Automobile Group (600418.SS) President An Jin told an industry conference in Beijing this week.
“This will be the driving force for us. We need to enhance our brand and quality.” [ID:nTOE63L07B] (Editing by Lincoln Feast)


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Dark Web Drug Marketplace
2022211 The Dark Web is much smaller than the Deep Web and is made up of all different kinds of websites that sell drugs, weaponsand even hire. I've heard from friends and drug-user forums alike that dark-web drugs he'll ask a friend who already uses a darknet marketplace to get. Shop low prices on groceries to build your shopping list or order online. Fill prescriptions, save with 100s of digital coupons, get fuel points. Hydra became the top Russian darknet market in 2022, after the closure of RAMP (Russian Anonymous Marketplace). Sentenced to federal prison for serving as a moderator on a global dark web marketplace that peddled guns, drugs and stolen identities. For the full list of dark net markets, visit the hidden Marketplace List. Found an error in the chart? outdated data? Please contact us so we.
Major Russian dark web marketplace taken down by US, Germany and drug darknet drug links traffickers," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. Dark Web Monitoring The Good The Bad And The Ugly Digital Shadows Nov 21, After the conviction of Ross Ulbricht, the owner of the drug marketplace Silk. So once he said the dark web had totally changed his business There is also, Christin says, a non-trivial risk a marketplace will. A few weeks back, news broke out that the two largest dark web illegal on the dark web's second largest drug marketplace, Hansa. Hydra became the top Russian darknet market in 2022, after the closure of RAMP (Russian Anonymous Marketplace). I've heard from friends and drug-user forums alike that dark-web drugs he'll ask a friend who already uses a darknet marketplace to get.
Sentenced to federal prison for serving as a moderator on a global dark web marketplace that peddled guns, darknet dream market drugs and stolen identities. The Justice Department announced Thursday that it had shuttered an illicit Internet marketplace for drugs, firearms and fake documents in. Law enforcement effort targeting illegal drugs on the dark web was selling illicit narcotics on various darknet marketplace sites. Biggest drug marketplace Before it was taken down, AlphaBay was known as the biggest drug market place and bazaar on the dark web. It hosted. Different darkweb marketplaces offer to buy illegal drugs online like LSD, The Alpha Market is a very new type of darknet marketplace or one of the. Whether addicts get their fix on the dark web, a dark alley, or the corner of Dark Market (large dark web marketplace) in early 2022.
Silk Road, accessed anonymously by users on the dark web, buyers and sellers from around the world to his illegal drug marketplace. Hackers with computer data theft in the social world. The suspected operators of the shadowy dark web assassin marketplace are in custody (Image. White House Market was the largest dark market for drugs, stolen data, One month ago, the Dark Web's top marketplace closed shop. The dark web marketplace, Wall Street Market, was one of the largest operating hosts for vendors peddling illegal wares, said DEA San. Bitcoin miner malware. government revealed this week that it seized billion in Bitcoin from the Silk Road, a dark web drug marketplace that was shut down by. The Dark Web is well known for being a marketplace for illegal goods such as darknet dream market reddit drugs and weapons. Wanna buy something? by wpadmin. Dark0de Market Link.
Dark Web markets: record spending in 2022. The chart below reveals darknet market revenue and the number of transfers to those markets. The gold. Silk Road is an underground highway for drug trade and expansion. 6 Silk Road was an online black market and the first darknet credit card market modern darknet market. Road was a Dark Web marketplace that facilitated vendors (often criminals) to surreptitiously sell. drugs, counterfeit documents and other. A popular dark web drug marketplace dark net marketplace for buying and selling drugs has been offline for three days, fueling speculation about its fate and despair among some users. So once he said the dark web had totally changed his business There is also, Christin says, a non-trivial risk a marketplace will. It's never been easier to buy cocaine, prescription medication, marijuana, ecstasy, ice and heroin, which are all easily available on the.
Wall Street Market, was taken into custody in Brazil, according to federal prosecutors in California. Multisignature, often known by multisig, is a type of technology that is used to add more security for the Bitcoin transactions. They search your house trying to find other drugs you have ordered. Advice for what you need to do next can vary, but ultimately, the answer is ongoing vigilance over every aspect of your identity. Considering that a dark web is not an enterprise and not an entity hosted in a single server, that would be pretty hard to do. Bitcoin is the most anonymous cryptocurrency available, and Monero even though probably isn’t as anonymous still is a great option as it provides for lesser transaction time and fee. Voter card and PAN card b) One passport size dark web drug marketplace photograph. This would provide useful information to law enforcement authorities, notably to assist them in identifying new trafficking trends and establishing refined risk profiles. These apply in any case as long as there is no conflict with the Verus Project's rules. Everything up above holds true for the bulk of Carpenter's work.
“Graham Cochrane is a trusted voice in the audio production space and has built a successful solo career through The Recording Revolution.”
The Dark Web is basically a vast array of websites that are not necessarily legitimate but are rather run by criminal organizations that want to make money from people who visit these websites. Culadasa is the real deal, a living adept with decades of experience. Winchester was arrested in Kentucky after a tip about his local dealing; he was apparently also a well-known Topix. This policy brief outlines what the Deep Web and Darknet darkmarket are, how they are accessed, and why we should care about them. Enforce the protection of data by assuring that native and other data security controls are in place. Top: A cyber-criminal trying to sell children SSNs with birth certificates on a hacking forum. As a result, Substrate is one of the most powerful components of the Polkadot ecosystem. Several rare earth elements are used to produce the colors on screen. If a dark net market’s operators decide to take off with the bitcoins that are being held in escrow, users have no darkmarket recourse. And you don’t have to communicate with other party at all. The Darknet is driven in part by the criminal marketplaces which peddle their nefarious goods and services," said James Lee, chief of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
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A new photo from China is showing what could be the casing for at least one of the next iPhone handsets.
The photo, which was posted to the WeiPhone BBS board, shows a crate of empty plastic boxes embossed with the “iPhone 5C” logo. The boxes appear to match the dimensions of the iPhone, and the simpler casing has led to speculation that the case could be for a low-cost addition to the iPhone line.
Various reports have suggested that Apple is planning to launch a pair of new models with its next iPhone rollout – a higher-cost model along the lines of previous iPhones and a lower-cost model. The company currently offers its previous-year model at a discounted price for customers looking to obtain a cheaper iPhone.
Reports from Asia on new Apple products have not been confirmed by the company and are not necessarily considered to be reliable sources. But such leaks from the region's many manufacturing facilities – many of which are tasked with manufacturing and assembling new handsets in the weeks and months prior to their release – are about the only previews available for new versions of the iPhone and other sought-after handsets.
Thus far, the strategy has served the company well as the iPhone was one of the few bright spots for Apple last quarter.
The iPhone refresh, expected to take place in the late summer or early fall, will also be accompanied by a new version of iOS. That update will include an overhauled user interface, another possible indication that the company will be looking to produce new packaging for the handset.
Evil clowns, scary nurses and sharp machetes teased in autumn PUBG Hallowe'en event
Reservoir computing can achieve the higher-dimension calculations required by emerging AI
Astronomers studying first-ever reported merger of two neutron stars claim to have detect light and gravitational waves
Allen died from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma


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Currently, the US contributes about 25% to the global economic output, followed by China at 15%. Combined, they produce about 40% of the global output, whereas Malaysia produces about 0.4%, or one hundredth of the combined output of both countries. However, it ought to be remembered that the standard of living between the US and China differs significantly.
The current international system with its Bretton Woods Institutions was conceived towards the end of World War II. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War, nearly 25 years ago, the US-sponsored liberal international order seemed to be the sole dominant system and hence, the terms Unipolar World and Unipolar
In its recent publication, Foreign Affairs magazine argues that the prevailing system is in crisis and the future is up for grabs. There are many elements of the story — military and economic blunders, stagnation for the middle and lower classes in the developed world, a populist backlash against globalisation, dizzying technological change — but a shifting balance of power may be the most important of all. It is arguably a case for a transition from unipolar to a multipolar world with the US being the troubled hegemon and China the confident challenger.
Richard Haass, a veteran American diplomat and president of the Council on Foreign Relations, is of the opinion that the order cannot be revived; Washington must accept the emergence of multi-
lateralism as a fait accompli.
Meanwhile, there are those who argue that China is not trying to replace the US as a hegemon. Instead it is merely trying to check the US globally while expelling it from a Chinese sphere of influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Why this matters to Malaysia?
There is growing concern that the Malaysian economy will shift into lower gear and the global economic outlook is not very promising. To substantiate this point of view, for example, the International Monetary Fund has cut its 2019 growth forecast for this region from its earlier estimate of 3.9% to 3.7%. Similarly, the Asian
Development Bank has put the region’s growth rate expectation at 5.8%, down from an earlier forecast of 5.9%. The underlying concern that contributed to these downward revisions is the US-China trade war and how it could upset markets.
According to Shankaran Nambiar of the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research, there are two reasons why the US-China tension matters to Malaysia. First, because it affects global markets and the resulting global demand for Malaysian exports. Second, and more directly, because China is Malaysia’s most important trade partner. Consequently, any trade policies that harm trade between these countries could affect Malaysia’s trading position, especially since Malaysia’s intermediate goods exports to China are significant.
Malaysia’s export profile will also be impacted by the state of the global electronics industry this year. At least in the near term, the global electronics industry is expected to grow at a slower pace, although one cannot rule out a downturn in electronics exports.
Another important export item, palm oil, does not seem to have a bright outlook, despite India cutting its import tax on the commodity, simply because other factors tend to moderate that action. The price of another commodity, crude oil, is also a cause for concern. Analysts are inclined to think that oil prices could take a tumble, and while this has repercussions for export revenue, it also matters for fiscal soundness.
A slowdown in exports will result in the current account surplus narrowing this year. The exchange rate could fall. If it does happen, that may be a blessing in disguise because a weak ringgit would make Malaysian exports more attractive. In a weak external environment, a softer ringgit will turn out to be a positive. Taking all things into consideration plus the much-to-be-desired external environment, 2019 will certainly see lower growth figures. If there is any good news, it is that we are headed for a slowdown and not negative growth.
The months ahead will need to see more forward-looking guidance on the government’s policies. On the fiscal side, the government has maintained its commitment to a prudent fiscal policy. That is surely commendable. On the monetary side, the central bank has maintained the benchmark interest rate at 3.25%.
As for international trade as a share of gross domestic product, Malaysia’s trade has been consistently more than 100% since 1988 and is currently above 130% (as at 2017). In comparison, the world average was less than 60%. And so, international trade is of great importance to the Malaysian economy, generating income through imports and exports.
One observation that deserves attention is that our exports have a very high import content and this is clearly reflected in Bank Negara Malaysia’s latest annual report, which was released recently. What this means is we do not add much value to our exports despite our very active participation in globalisation, particularly through global value chains (GVCs).
It seems that we are predominantly engaged in low value-added activities such as assembly work rather than high-end manufacturing activities.
So, who do we trade with? Our biggest trading partners in descending order are China, Singapore, the European Union, Japan and the US, although some 15 years ago, the US was our largest trading partner. It has been noted that trade with Japan and the US is usually accompanied with a significant transfer of technology.
The Thucydides Trap
As the rising dragon China challenges the American eagle, which does not want to be knocked off her perch, misunderstandings about each other’s actions and intentions could lead them to a deadly trap. This trap was first identified by the ancient Greek historian Thucydides. It was Graham Allison at the Harvard Kennedy School who reminded us of the immediate danger of a Thucydides Trap — he postulated that war between a rising power and an established power is inevitable. Paraphrasing Thucydides from The History of the Peloponnesian War, it was the rise of Athens and the fear inspired in Sparta that made war inevitable.
In more recent times, we have to thank Japan for being the strategic counterbalance between China and the US.
Against this backdrop, change is inevitable, unrelenting and overarching. In this context, the proverbial Malay sang kancil or mouse deer is known for its agility and wit. Strategy and timing is of essence as we dance along with the Goliaths. We must be careful not get trampled by them. We ought to play according to the accepted rules and reap maximum benefits.
In the final analysis, while we actively participate in globalisation, we must ensure that our economic sovereignty is not compromised. Being a small open economy, Malaysia is highly interconnected with the global economy through its active participation in GVCs. However, this would also mean that its economy is vulnerable and highly susceptible to external shocks and disruptions, such as volatile movements or fluctuations in global commodity prices, or in this case, risks arising from a trade war between two of the world’s largest economies.
Samirul Ariff Othman is an analyst with local think tank, MIER. He completed his graduate studies at Macquarie University, Australia. The views in this article are his own.


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P&G’s Asian chief: Growth is speeding up
The head of Asian operations for the world’s largest consumer products maker says Procter & Gamble Co.'s growth in the region with half the world’s population is picking up speed.
The goal: More babies in Chinese villages wearing Pampers. More women in teeming urban India washing their hair with Pantene. More families on the canals of Vietnam cleaning their clothes with Tide.
The kind of numbers in play - and the potential for building on them - are why Procter & Gamble Co. has staked its future deeply in Asia.
“The Asia business in general is extremely healthy right now,” Deb Henretta, Asia Group president for P&G, told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “We have accelerated our growth fairly significantly over the last couple years.”
P&G’s global targets of reaching 5 billion consumers by 2015 (from 4.2 billion) and more than doubling total annual sales to $175 billion over 15 years rely heavily on high growth rates in China, India, and the rest of the region.
Henretta, based in Singapore, was at Cincinnati headquarters last month for meetings. P&G has consolidated its three Asia branches into one group, including Japan, most of the Asian continent, and Australia and New Zealand. Her group already serves 2 billion consumers. In fiscal 2010, Asia accounted for 15 percent of P&G’s $79 billion in revenue, up from 13 percent in 2008.
P&G sees that as just a start.
Henretta’s mission: get Asian consumers buying P&G products at the same rate as people in Mexico. Asia’s per capita spending on P&G products is $3.46 - China at $3 and India at some 70 cents per person. Getting her region to Mexico’s $20 per person would jump P&G’s some $12 billion in annual Asia revenue by $50 billion.
“The fact that Mexico’s done it makes it eminently achievable in my mind, and I tell our folks that all the time,” Henretta said. “So we’re definitely focused on getting there, and we’d like to get there as fast as possible.”
P&G’s Asia efforts generally play off the company strategy set by CEO Bob McDonald - reach more places with expanded distribution, attract more people at all income levels with products geared to their spending ability, and entice existing customers to trade up and try more kinds of P&G products.
Henretta said the world’s largest consumer products company wants to use its size, but tailors Asian plans for the region’s diversity in cultures, stages of economic development, and incomes from billionaires to people living on less than a dollar a day.
“I don’t believe you can win in Asia by simply taking Western mindset and Western business models and plopping them into Asia,” she explained. “We’ve taken on a bit of a rallying cry - being as common as possible, but as different as needed.
“We want to be as common as possible so we can leverage corporate scale, but we want to be as different as needed, so we can make sure that what we put into Asia will work with Asians.”
To reach low-income Asians, P&G has rolled out a pennies-priced version of Gillette shavers, and low-priced Tide laundry detergent and single-rinse Downy fabric softener that saves water, a scarce resource in some areas.
Meanwhile, P&G also offers high-end SK-II and Olay cosmetics and advanced shampoos geared to regional hair types and preferences, such as Pantene with coconut oil.
P&G has invested in research centers in China, India, Japan and Singapore, besides manufacturing plants around the region.
Scott Anthony, who works in Singapore as managing director of Innosight Ventures, sees P&G making sound moves.
“What they are really trying hard to avoid is the trend that has just hamstrung multinational companies over the years, which is stripping things down and just lowering prices and trying to reach consumers cheaply in the emerging markets,” Anthony said.
Anthony said noticeable physical investments by companies such as P&G, General Electric Co. and Cisco Systems Inc. are “recognizing that winning in emerging markets requires living in emerging markets. This isn’t just the big, bad American company that is coming to plunder - people are really interested in helping the country develop and grow.”
Anthony said P&G’s success at reaching the growth it wants will depend on the region’s economies continuing to grow as they have in recent years.
“You can’t control how much does the GDP increase, how quickly do people enter the middle class; you can’t do much about that,” he said.
The Japanese earthquake and tsunami added another unforeseen impact; P&G is still assessing effects on its second-largest Asian business behind China.
P&G also faces tough competition such as Unilever PLC, the European consumer products company that got a head start in India; regional powers such as Japan’s Kao and Unicharm; and proliferating local companies. Henretta said P&G’s moves take into account all three levels of competitors.
Henretta, 49, is a Rochester, N.Y., native who formerly headed P&G’s Global Baby Care business, promotes health and child development benefits of disposable diapers, beyond convenience. In the past decade, the Chinese diaper market grew tenfold, from $220 million to $2.2 billion, P&G says.
“Obviously, it is a big focus for us because Asia is having more babies than many regions of the world,” she said. “So, we’ve got a lot of babies we’d like to see in Pampers.”


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Beautiful Snaps Of Sea Of Spring Blossoms In Melbourne's CBD
Hosier Lane in Melbourne is best known as an inner-city hub for graffiti art -- but this week it was turned into a glorious blanket of tulips thanks to one sustainability hero.
Joost Bakker is the Dutch-born innovator known for opening Australia's first waste-free restaurant -- Silo -- and was behind the idea to plant 35,000 tulips in Melbourne's CBD this week.
Bakker noted on his Instagram that his family grew the blooms in Monbulk but his brother said they weren't "quite good enough to sell".
"When he said he was throwing them out I said no way!" Bakker said.
"So we spent the early hours of this morning bringing them into town."
Bakker added that the installation was about making people in the city aware of the realities of the flower industry.
"It’s currently under a lot of pressure from imported flowers with some estimating close to 70% of flowers sold in Australia are imported," he wrote.
Melburnians flocked to Hosier Lane to pick their own tulips -- which had disappeared by Friday afternoon.
Here are just some of the best photos uploaded to Instagram of flower fans collecting the gorgeous spring blooms to take home.
Bakker noted on his Instagram post that the best way to support local Aussie flower growers was to ask your florist a couple of key questions.
"When you buy flowers please ask ‘are they grown locally? Are they in season?’ These two things make a purchase much more sustainable.
"Support a brilliant industry and the next generation of flower growers," said Bakker.
Main Image: Instagram/@dakotaflowercompany


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The pandemic, climate change and geopolitics are driving global manufacturing executives to focus on a twin transformation: smart digitisation and a focus on environmental, social and governance goals.
Under the Masterplan, the state will develop the state’s digital economy by improving infrastructures and building upon their manufacturing strengths
A committed partner through the digitalisation journey Helping entrepreneurs apply for SME Digitalisation Grant
In their Cost of Manufacturing Operations around the Globe, KPMG finds that Malaysia ranks high thanks to accessible Primary Costs, though there is still work that needs to be done.
Quick release of unambiguous guidelines for new FDI tax exemptions Training under e-commerce campaign, grants, loans for digitalisation services
Accelerating transformation towards smart manufacturing in Industry 4.0 era Product engineering laboratory offers services in digital modelling & reliability engineering
Nations, education systems have to change way of thinking, of educating Mastering the complexity in digitalization will be our most common challenge
Advice from an executive who has faced the disruption caused by digital resonates with Karamjit Singh and is worth listening to.
Karamjit Singh shares his thoughts on where Malaysia’s Digital Economy stands and if pushed to score it, gives a 3.5 score out of 10 in DNA's inaugural Pulse On Malaysia's Digital Economy Deep Dive.
Among his top five stories of the year is one on the lack of innovation among manufacturing based SMEs which Karamjit Singh feels presents a clear and present danger to Malaysia's ambitions.


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South Korea is coping with its worst outbreak of avian flu ever — and U.S. egg farmers are benefiting
The first alarm about a potential avian flu infestation at the poultry farm came from suspicious workers at a nearby taxi company in late December.
Health workers showed up almost immediately. Confirming the worst, they ordered Yang Byeong-hak, a farmer in a southwestern province, to cull roughly 12,000 ducks within a day.
They were his entire stock.
Yang dug a massive hole, lined it with vinyl and chemicals and buried the dead birds. Then all the other poultry farmers in a 3-kilometer radius — his neighbors and colleagues in the industry — were forced to do the same, he said.
“People have looked at me disapprovingly, and at first I was sorry, but also angry and resentful,” said Yang, a poultry farmer for more than a decade in South Jeolla province. “I have wanted to blame someone.”
Yang has for now focused his disappointment toward the South Korean government, which is reacting aggressively to a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain that has devastated the poultry industry here.
The nation itself is in crisis right now, so we don’t expect much from the government.
farmer Kang Eun-ju
Recognizing the crisis and its potential impact on consumers, South Korea has agreed to allow eggs to be imported from the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Other countries might soon be invited to help too. The government has reduced tariffs and agreed to subsidize part of the cost of shipment.
Last week, about 200 tons — millions of eggs — arrived from the United States in carefully packed boxes on commercial airlines, just in time for Lunar New Year, when South Korean families come together to celebrate with home-cooked meals.
The imported eggs are expected to be the first of many from the United States under a temporary agreement between the countries, which already have a trade deal that includes eggs known as the U.S. Korea Free Trade Agreement, or KORUS. President Trump has criticized it as a “job-killing deal.”
In this case, the Korean government has waived KORUS tariffs on eggs and agreed to subsidize part of the freight costs, making the prices profitable for importers and cheap enough for consumers.
South Korea is no stranger to avian influenza, but this year’s outbreak has been its worst, thanks in part to a new strain.
And the nation’s egg consumers have noticed. Bakeries in some cases have fewer eggs than needed, and large supermarkets have been limiting customers’ purchases. The shortage has driven up prices by as much as 50% on average since December, according to a study by local analysts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
By late December, at least 20 million birds — perhaps more than 10% of the country’s poultry stock of chickens and ducks — have been culled because of the flu. The figures continue to grow.
“The viruses before were not this severe,” said Kim Jae-hong with the Korean Poultry Assn. “The poultry farms were thoroughly disinfected but could not withstand the virus and are continuing to experience losses.”
The government has declared the situation “serious” — the highest alert on the country’s health scale, according to American agriculture officials, who are monitoring the situation closely.
In some cases, the South Korean government has stopped transportation of birds and poultry products to avoid spreading the virus, and its health workers have been granted the authority to direct disinfection at dozens of farms like Yang’s — even preemptively at locations near those with infections. The virus can be spread by infected poultry, but it can also be carried by clothing or equipment that has been near the birds.
Amid the reaction, the imported eggs, while welcomed by some consumers, are coming with a small catch. The American eggs being imported now have white shells. Since the 1970s, South Koreans have become accustomed to brown shells, which have been marketed as “native.” It remains to be seen whether consumers will trust the white-shelled variety.
South Korean farmers and their trade representatives aren’t enthusiastic about the program. They fear it undermines the local industry without reducing prices enough to justify the policy change.
According to the American agriculture report, a dozen imported eggs should cost about the same as average-grade South Korean ones did before the crisis — just under $2. The study found that a dozen local eggs cost about $1.87 in early December. A month later, the price had risen to $2.99.
Consumers have noticed the relatively bare shelves at major supermarkets — and, of course, the higher prices.
“The eggs became more expensive but it’s bearable,” said Kim Ok-nam, who lives in central Seoul and supports the American import plan. “Eggs probably won’t get much cheaper but I’ll be satisfied if the price stays the same.”
Another shopper, Kim Kyeong-sook, has also noticed the price changes, which vary somewhat by market. She said she prefers the prices at Costco, the American discount retailer, but the stores have restricted consumers to 30 eggs.
Koreans have dramatically increased their consumption of animal protein since the country’s economy was transformed in the latter half of the 20th century. Eggs are a key part of that. Annual per capita consumption last year was about 28 pounds, government data show — up 2 pounds per person since 2009.
Kim Kyeong-sook said she has no choice but to agree with the import plan — and pay a bit more.
“There are eggs in everything, like bread, so we just have to accept it,” she said. “The price probably won’t go down that much. The prices rose, but other than that, I don’t feel uncomfortable. I haven’t been affected too much.”
While consumers deal with higher prices, the poultry industry here is struggling with how to cope with the outbreak. It’s believed that the virus began in the southern part of the country, brought on by migratory birds. It spread quickly to some northern locations in a country that has an advanced transportation infrastructure.
The farmers are upset about the level of disaster compensation from government officials — and the idea of importing eggs to shore up the consumer markets has added to their frustration, in some cases, even for those who haven’t experienced losses.
“It’s a sensitive issue,” said Kang Eun-ju, a farm owner in Gyeongsang province.
Fortunately for her, Kang’s farm has been spared. But she’s still angered by media reports suggesting that unsterile or inhumane farm conditions helped spread the disease. And the festering controversy surrounding the South Korean president, recently impeached in an influence-peddling scandal, hasn’t given her confidence that the government is prepared to respond in the farmers’ favor.
“The nation itself is in crisis right now, so we don’t expect much from the government,” she said. “We’ll have to see how policy changes once we go through regime change.”
The politics in his country don’t concern Yang, the duck farmer in the southwest, as much as the process for getting his farm operational again. He’s received less government compensation than he feels he deserves — but he also faces the prospect of months of disinfecting without being able to rebuild his stock.
Hundreds of other poultry farmers across his province and the country now face the same fate, and perhaps the same concern.
“It’s very difficult for us right now,” he said, later asking, “Should I keep doing this work?”
Stiles is a special correspondent.
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Digger’s Diner recently started serving hamburgers, hotdogs, milkshakes and other American fare at the food court at Bayfair Center.
It was so named "because original owner, Digger Dave, worked as a graveyard digger before going into the restaurant business," according to a food review in Concord Patch, the city where the chain got started 18 years ago.
"Digger's Diner may well serve the best burger you will find in Concord or anywhere else, for that matter," the review said. "With names like the Coffin, the Stubb and the Crypt, the burgers are huge and delicious."
Castro Valley residents selected Val's Burgers as the best joint around according to the Patch 2012 Reader's Choice Awards.
Meanwhile, Bayfair Center anticipates the opening of another new food court eatery, Pizza-cademy, before the end of the year.


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News On Sweet Potato Chips
Jackson’s Bolsters Sales & Marketing Team to Support Strong Brand Growth
April 09, 2023Jackson’s®, a sweet potato chip snack brand in the United States, is expanding its sales and marketing team by adding three knowledgeable brand leaders to drive distribution throughout the country.
Sweet Potato sibling from Uglies Kettle Chip
May 16, 2022Uglies Kettle Chips, the brand that brings you naturally imperfect, honestly delicious plant-based snacks, now introduces new upcycled sweet potato chips: Uglies Sweets.
'Snacks-TEAM' by Vakuum Food uses PEF process in close cooperation with Elea
December 16, 2021Vakuum Food GmbH & Co.KG is a snacks producer based in Neuenkirchen near Osnabrück and was founded by Martin Johanning in 2018. Martin Johanning has his roots in Sweden and has been very successful with 'Die krossen Kerle' at Johanning Snacks.
Upcycled sweet potato snack brand Spudsy closes USD 3.3 Million Series A Funding
October 02, 2021Spudsy, the brand that upcycles imperfect sweet potatoes and turns them into plant-based, delicious snacks, has announced the closing of a $3.3 Million funding round led by KarpReilly and Stage 1 Fund.
See Elea's award-winning Smoothcut One PEF-system at Anuga FoodTec
March 03, 2018Pulsed Electric Field Specialist Elea invites you to the Anuga FoodTec to discuss and taste for yourself what its award winning compact all-in-one SmoothCut™One PEF system can do
Way Better Snacks brings Innovative Fall Flavors to Expo East
September 17, 2015Live Better Brands will present new better-for-you products in a range of innovative fall flavorsat the Natural Products Expo East trade show
Saratoga Chips now also offers line of sweet potato chips
May 18, 2015Saratoga Chips, America's First Kettle Chip, has announced their product line now includes two flavors of sweet potato chips.
Popchips Heats Up and Sweetens The Competition With Two New Flavor Innovations
March 06, 2015Popchips inc., the innovative popped snack company, today announced two new flavor innovations at the Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, California.
Ballreich Bros plans nationwide distribution of sweet potato chips at Walmart and Dollar General
March 04, 2015Ohio Potato Chip manufacturer Ballreich Bros. is set to expand its reach nationwide with a new sweet potato chip line that is being marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips.
UK: Kettle Sweet Potato Chips withdrawn due to labeling error.
March 29, 2014Kettle Foods Ltd has withdrawn some packs of its Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips Sweet Chilli because they contain wheat (gluten).


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Punch Taverns saw average profit per pub increase by 4% in the year to 20 August 2016 after it benefited from the sale of non-core pubs in its estate totalling £324m over the last two years.
The company, which now numbers around 3,276 pubs nationwide, recorded revenue of £407m for the year. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were £178m for the period, down from £196m the year before, which Punch said reflected £324m of strategic disposals completed over the last 24 months.
Pre-tax profit stood at £60m, as compared with a loss of £105m in August 2015.
Punch's Mercury division, which numbers just under 700 pubs, generated revenue of £48m and EBITDA of £20m.
Mercury, run by Paul Pavli, who previously ran Punch's new business division, was created earlier this year and replaces Punch's turnaround division and aims to deliver like-for-like growth by 2017.
The business is also growing its managed retail division, in which 109 pubs are now trading.
Duncan Garrood, chief executive officer of Punch Taverns, said:
"The business has ended the year with a solid set of results, in line with our expectations, and which reflects the completion of our strategic disposal programme.
"We have made good progress towards delivering on the strategy we set out in November 2015. In particular the roll-out of our Retail division is progressing well and we are accelerating the roll-out to c.150 pubs per year.
"The new Pubs Code Regulations has resulted in us having to remarket all lets in line with the new regulatory requirements. While this is impacting letting activity in the short term, our expectations for the longer-term growth prospects for the business remain unchanged.
"Punch has a clear plan for the future, a strategy that is progressing well, and a unique operating model that is expected to drive improved performance over the coming years."


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500 Startups’ next batch of accelerator companies is launching now that its previous demo day has wrapped up, this time seemingly having a bit of a wider focus than we’re accustomed to seeing coming out of the firm. This batch, which contains 31 companies, focuses on a range of topics, like VR, healthcare, financial technology and even drones. Around 43 percent of the founders in the program come from international regions, something that tends to be a bigger focus for 500 Startups as it picks its startups to go through its accelerator.
As these companies go through the program, 500 Startups tends to help its companies with growth and marketing — which it uses to differentiate itself among other programs. There’s also an automotive track this year, hosted by General Motors. [ Tech Crunch ]


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Here's Peter Melchett's reply to the recent Nature editorial which advanced the view that, "A scientific review, farm-scale trials and extensive public consultations on genetically modified crops should pave the way for greater benefits and choice for consumers - provided that the organic movement abandons self-damaging dogmas."
From the second item: "The question of cross-pollination in corn has become a big issue for corn growers, consumers and others who want to keep corn varieties separate and distinct."
*Genetically modified mystery
The organic movement will be grateful for Nature's interest in our well-being ('Diversity in food technology', Nature424, 473 (31 July 2003)), but when you urge us to abandon "self-damaging dogmas", I hope you'll forgive us for looking at your advice a little sceptically. In practice, you are advising one of the few sectors of UK agriculture that has a real and growing market, strongly supported by consumers, to introduce a radical change in our product. You don't claim to be doing this to further the interests of organic farmers, organic food manufacturers, organic retailers or the millions of people who now consume organic food in the UK.
In your editorial you say that the Soil Association 'will resist seemingly to their dying breath the idea' that GM technology 'could be as ethical' as conventional plant breeding. Ultimately it's up to consumers, not those who grow or sell food, to make this decision. Given that people who buy non-organic food don't want GM in it, it's hardly surprising that organic consumers are even more determined that GM should be kept out of organic food. The significant areas of uncertainty described in the Government's scientific assessment of GM crops suggest that these consumers know what they're talking about. You say that our determination to keep GM out of organic is 'artificial, arbitrary and self-defeating". No doubt you would have said the same when the organic sector banned the feeding of ground-up animal remains to ruminants ten years before the discovery of BSE.
Thankfully the Government has learnt some lessons from past food disasters and, in particular, they seem willing to listen to the market and consumers in a way that the overwhelmingly pro-GM scientific establishment in the UK finds completely impossible.
The Government have promised to protect organic farming from GM contamination, in line with consumers wishes (and incidentally the EU regulation defining organic production). As you say, there is now increasing recognition of what organic farmers and environmentalists have been saying for nearly a decade: namely that co-existence of GM and organic farming may not be possible in the UK. We shall have to make a choice.
The Soil Association
Bristol House, 40-56 Victoria Street
Bristol, BS1 6BY
Genetically modified mystery
By JERRY PERKINS, Register Farm Editor
Des Moines Register, 10 August 2003
Mount Vernon, Ia. - Laura Krouse is stumped.
She does not know how her old-fashioned, open-pollinated corn picked up traces of newfangled, genetically modified corn two years ago, or why her corn tested clean of the GMO genes a year ago.
All she knows is that it is critical for her business - Abbe Hills Open Pollinated Seed Corn - that the corn be free of the genes from genetically altered corn.
"I want to be certified organic by 2005, when every organic farmer has to plant certified organic seed," Krouse said. "But if I test positive for genetically modified corn, what's going to happen? Most of my customers will stop buying from me, and I'd have to go look for a different kind of customer."
Krouse's Abbe Hills seed corn is favored by organic farmers and livestock producers who do not want her corn if it has been contaminated by corn that has had its genetic makeup altered to make it resistant to herbicides or to make it toxic to pests, like corn borers.
The question of cross-pollination in corn has become a big issue for corn growers, consumers and others who want to keep corn varieties separate and distinct.
Last year, questions were raised about possible contamination of cornfields by test plots of specialty corn varieties that had been altered genetically to produce pharmaceuticals, vaccines and industrial products. Cornfields in Iowa and Nebraska that were suspected of being contaminated by the so-called "pharma-corn" test plots were destroyed.
Last week, the federal government tightened its restrictions on growing corn for industrial purposes by requiring, among other things, that "pharma" crops be grown in isolation so they cannot cross-pollinate nearby cornfields.
This year, Krouse has her seed corn planted in a five-acre plot in the middle of her 70-acre farm northwest of this eastern Iowa community.
She is hoping the one-eighth of a mile between her corn and her neighbors" genetically modified corn will be enough to keep her crop clean this year.
"I'm trying a couple of strategies," said Krouse. "First, I'm trying to isolate the corn by distance. Second, I'm timing the planting of the crop so that tasseling occurs later in my corn than the neighboring corn."
It is the tassel, the male part of the corn plant, that throws its pollen into the air to inseminate the silk, the female part of the corn, that emerges at the end of the cob. When a grain of pollen lands on a silk, kernels form on the cob with a mixture of genes from the male and female parts of the corn.
Experts disagree on how far corn pollen can carry, but all agree that cross-pollination in corn plants is a subject that needs more research, especially now that new types of corn are being developed for specific uses that may not be suitable for mixing with other types of corn.
Kendall Lamkey, a plant breeder at Iowa State University, said organic-corn growers like Laura Krouse face a tough problem. The genes of genetically modified corn have already become mixed into the general corn gene pool because of cross-pollination, he said.
"GMO genes are already widespread," he said.
Mark Westgate, an ISU plant physiologist, said cross-pollination is much more of a problem for corn than it is for soybeans.
Soybeans self-pollinate much more than corn because of their physiology, he said. That means soybeans do not spread their genetic material as far as corn does.
"Corn is supposed to cross-pollinate," Westgate said. "Cross pollination makes corn plants more vigorous and produces more and better seed."
Corn pollen is viable for two hours or more after it is cast off by the tassel. In that two hours or so, the pollen can be carried a mile or more by the wind into a neighboring field where its genes are not wanted.
"Six hundred feet of isolation doesn't mean a thing if the wind is blowing your way at 20 miles an hour," said Westgate.
Lamkey said Krouse's corn is in danger.
"She can't control what her neighbors do, so she's only got a couple of options and they aren't enough," Lamkey said. "Organic corn in Iowa is going to be really hard to do because of the pollen issue."
Organic farmers prefer her corn
Laura Krouse bought 70 acres in 1988 and the seed business that went with it.
The seed business had been started by the Neal family in 1903, when Burt Neal bought kernels from the world champion ear of corn at the World Corn Exposition
Back to the Archive


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It’s time to take a closer look at the water bottle your child is using because a popular brand has expanded an earlier recall. Contigo, along with the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has expanded a recall of its Contigo Kids Cleanable Water Bottles citing a choking danger. Here’s what you need to know.
Earlier last year in August, the CPSC and Contigo issued a recall of its kids water bottle stating that the water bottle’s silicone spout may detach from the lid, which poses a choking risk to children. The recall included approximately 5.7 million bottles in the US, 157,000 units in Canada, and 28,000 sold in Mexico.
At that time, Contigo received 149 reports of the spout detaching, including 18 spouts found in children’s mouths. That number has risen in the past year to now amount to 427 reports of detached spouts and “27 spouts found in children’s mouths.” This increase has prompted an expansion of their recall.
“As a leading innovator of water bottles, travel mugs and kids bottles, Contigo puts safety and quality first,” a statement reads on the company website. “As part of our commitment to consumer safety, Contigo, in partnership with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is voluntarily recalling the lids of the Contigo Kids Cleanable Water Bottle.”
The recalled water bottles were sold at popular stores, including Target, Costco, and Walmart , between April 2018 through February 2020. They come in three sizes, including a 13 oz., 14 oz., and 20 oz. “The base and cover of the clear silicone spout will always be BLACK,” the CPSC said. “Only black color spout base and spout cover models are included in this recall. Contigo is printed on the rim and along the front near the bottom of the bottle.”
The CPSC is asking parents to “immediately stop using the recalled water bottles, take them away from children and contact Contigo for inspection instructions and a free replacement lid.”


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The Ripple Swell 2018 saw the participation of many notable dignitaries starting from the former American President, Bill Clinton to Colin Dinn, the CTO and Head of Operations of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB). Dinn cited how Ripple has benefited the company for long-term starting from modern financial force to quick transactions.
Taking this opportunity, Dinn commented that the implementation of Ripple’s platform in SCB has resulted in many profits for the company. The CTO also commented that this initiative has also helped the traditional bank to emerge as a modern financial force.
He further stated that the idea of collaboration with Ripple was to explore the various facilities included in the platform. They wanted to use the distributed ledger technology and advanced security provided by blockchain to ease financial transactions.
Adding to his comment, he also explained that SCB saw Ripple as a great platform to grow into its working potential. According to him, they have joined with Ripple so as to change the method of payments. Henceforth, easing out transaction related procedures for the users and enabling instant payments.
SCB’s motive is to make this initiative available to users all around the world. This will definitely revolutionise the banking sector globally. Not only the users will be able to make payments easily, but also, the whole transaction history will be transparent.
Both the companies have been in news recently. Ripple has announced earlier that the cryptocurrency company will be launching multi – hop payments for RippleNet. The feature will allow customers and banks to avoid the time taken for one – to – one connections. Additionally, this will help in maintaining uniformity of global liquidity.


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Thika is the third city uber has expanded to in Kenya and they will not stop, I guess until they conquer the cab business in Africa and the world.
Here is the news by Techweez.
READ ALSO: Uber Changed The World Of Cabbing With Just A simple App
Uber launched in Nairobi in January 2015, and the service became a hit among the expatriate community and Nairobi’s tech savvy users. The service has been quick to innovate in the local market including the addition of cash payment options. Across the world. Uber has been synonymous with card payments and rolled out cash and mobile money payments in Kenya and Hyderabad, India. Uber has also rolled out Uber for business targeting corporate in Kenya, who may wish to use the taxi hailing service for its employees.
In March, the company launched operations in the coastal city of Mombasa, which was part of a grand plan for the African market. The launch was the second in a city in Kenya. The San-Francisco headquartered taxi hailing service is now set to launch in Thika, making it its third city in Kenya. As part of the promotion to mark its entry into the Town, all Uber rides to, from or within Thika are 20% off for this week valid until Sundayat midnight. To enjoy this, users will use the promo code THIKA20.


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Seattle-based Amazon is still in the early stages of developing its private branded grocery offerings, according to Coresight Research, a New York- and Hong Kong-based retail researcher. Coresight recently issued a report exploring Amazon’s U.S. private brand offerings using proprietary data on nearly 7,000 such products.
Amazon offers only two of its own food and beverage product brands: Wickedly Prime and Happy Belly, accounting for 124 items. In beauty and personal care, Amazon offers just two private brand products, the report noted.
High-volume grocery-store items are among the most-reviewed of Amazon’s private brands, though the ranges are often very limited, the report added. Wickedly Prime items have each generated an average 51 reviews and a rating of 4.2. Meanwhile, Amazon’s other food brand, Happy Belly, offering 43 items, scored an average of 4.3 from an average 58 reviews per product.
Launched in 2016, Wickedly Prime features products such as snack bars, chips, nuts, popcorn, puffed snacks and crisps, soup, seaweed snacks, sweet spreads, tea and matcha and trail mix. Happy Belly, which also launched in 2016, offers snack nuts and seeds, snack and trail mixes and roasted bean and ground coffee.
Reflecting products listed on Amazon.com in early May, the data shows apparel being the dominant category, which comprises almost 5,000 -- or nearly three-quarters -- of Amazon’s private brand lineup, and counting. However, the report also points out that Amazon is at the early stages of developing newer categories, such as grocery, and building its own suite of brands in the category, explained Deborah Weinswig, Coresight’s CEO and founder.
More information is available in the report, called “Deep Dive: Slicing and Dicing Amazon’s Private-Label Offering,” here.